Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite 2 Introduction
The Quick-R is likely one of the most original and attention-grabbing tremendous shoe designs at present available on the market. No different model is gutsy sufficient to have a lot of the shoe’s delicate carbon plate uncovered and to haven’t any midfoot part.
I had my reservations concerning the Quick-R when it first got here out 2 years in the past however after reviewing it, I admitted that the design works and it’s not a gimmick.
Once I reviewed the unique Quick-R, I loved its journey however I discovered the heel part to be a bit too agency. I additionally felt that it didn’t have sufficient cushioning for a full marathon. I didn’t ever race in it however I used it for pace coaching.
Up to now two years, most Puma long-distance athletes selected the opposite Puma racer, the Deviate Elite 2 to race in which had smoother transitions and extra heel cushioning. It was the extra comfy and the safer possibility of the two Puma, long-distance tremendous sneakers to race in.
The Quick-R 2 has the identical design as the unique model however with some main modifications. The midsole foam is totally different, the stack top has been elevated and the carbon plate has been tweaked. It additionally prices $10 extra and it weighs 0.6 oz (17 grams) greater than its predecessor.
There have been some provide points when the primary model was launched and it was extraordinarily tough to get a pair. This time, Puma has finished a greater job in making the Quick-R 2 obtainable. There appears to be loads of pairs nonetheless obtainable.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite 2 First Impressions
My first run was a 400 m interval session. The very first thing that I seen was how a lot softer the heel part felt. In model 1, the agency heel made it really feel like there was a rock wedged underneath my heel. The heel of model 2 felt softer than the forefoot part.
The Quick-R 2 felt a bit sluggish because of its weight and its gentle cushioning. I felt like I used to be placing in a variety of effort to extend my tempo. It didn’t really feel as quick as different carbon racers.
The opposite factor that I seen was that the carbon plate felt stiffer than the one within the first model. This made the journey really feel extra inflexible and fewer pure.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite 2 Higher
The Quick-R 2 has a very good higher. It’s a semi-bootie building and you may nonetheless use a runner’s knot. The higher mesh is breathable however it feels plastic-like and doesn’t stretch. It jogs my memory of Vaporweave on the Vaporfly Subsequent%.
Lockdown is nice however the heel tab comes up a bit too excessive and irritates my Achilles when strolling. When working, I don’t discover it. I discover the match true to dimension. It has a slim midfoot and forefoot however I don’t recommend going up a half dimension as a result of the size could be too lengthy.
On my pair, the higher is beginning to separate from the midsole within the forefoot which is disappointing for a $260 shoe. The construct high quality of the Quick-R is just not as excessive as different tremendous sneakers.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite 2 Sole Unit
The most important replace on this new model of the Quick-R is that the heel has been modified from EVA to the a lot softer Nitro Elite foam which is a nitrogen-infused TPU mix. The heel and the forefoot at the moment are the identical foam.
I discover the heel part to be so much softer than the forefoot part. This ends in a sinking-in feeling after I heel strike so transitions from heel-to-forefoot aren’t very clean. The heel feels a bit “sticky”. It’s an 8 mm drop however it feels a lot decrease because of the heel part being so squishy.
The opposite noticeable change is the carbon plate. It’s now stiffer and prolonged within the entrance with the tip of it uncovered. Puma says that it gives further propulsion by growing the final level of floor contact. In actuality, I didn’t discover a distinction and it’s extra of a gimmick than a purposeful characteristic.
When it comes to vitality return, Puma’s Nitro Elite foam is behind different tremendous foams like ZoomX, Lightstrike Professional, FuelCell and FF Turbo+. It doesn’t rebound as shortly so it doesn’t really feel as springy or bouncy. I’d take a PEBA-based foam over Nitro Elite any day of the week.
The midsole stack top has been elevated and it’s now on the most restrict of 40 mm within the heel. This makes it much more cushioned and higher suited to the marathon distance. The longest run I did within the Quick-R 2 was a 33 kilometre Saturday run at largely regular tempo with a ten kilometre marathon-pace part integrated into it.
That future felt comfy however it didn’t precisely really feel easy. There isn’t a lot of a forefoot rocker (in comparison with different tremendous sneakers) so you need to work a bit more durable to push off. It’s additionally not as straightforward to get right into a rhythm as with a shoe that has an aggressive rocker.
Stability is first rate for such a tall shoe. It’s because it has such a large forefoot base. My foot strikes all the time really feel very planted when working within the Quick-R 2 and it’s not very demanding on my ankles. It feels actually
Pumagrip rubber on the outsole is plentiful. The whole forefoot is roofed in thick rubber, aside from the centre cavity. There are 2 oval items of rubber which defend the heel and outsole sturdiness is above common. I believe they might scale back the rubber on the forefoot by making it thinner or utilizing much less of it to decrease the burden.
Traction is outstanding. I used the Quick-R 2 within the rain at the least 3 instances and I had no slipping points in anyway.
Puma Quick-R Nitro Elite 2 Conclusions
The Quick-R 2 is now a long-distance racer and it has sufficient cushioning for a full marathon. It’s disappointing that the heel is so squishy and transitions from heel to forefoot are so sluggish. This shoe fits midfoot and forefoot strikers greater than heel strikers.
In comparison with the unique Quick-R, it feels slower. It’s heavier, it’s softer and transitions are slower. For lengthy distances, I’d decide the Quick-R 2; for brief distances, I’d decide the Quick-R 1.
To me, the Quick-R 2 feels extra like a coaching shoe due to its weight and its clunkiness. I don’t get pleasure from it for intervals and workouts- it feels slower than different tremendous sneakers and never as environment friendly.
With a price ticket of $260, I can’t suggest it. There are cheaper racers which really feel sooner and have higher construct high quality. It nonetheless nevertheless has a enjoyable, distinctive journey with deep cushioning and I discover myself wanting ahead to working in it each time. I get pleasure from utilizing it for simple and steady-paced runs however that isn’t precisely what it was designed for.
Puma has to make use of PEBA within the midsole of their race sneakers to be aggressive. The TPU mix that’s within the Quick-R 2 simply doesn’t lower the mustard; it’s not gentle sufficient and never energetic sufficient.
With regards to the Puma long-distance racing vary, I believe that a lot of the Puma sponsored athletes and most non-elite runners will nonetheless select the Deviate Elite over the Quick-R; it’s cheaper, lighter and smoother.
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